RASTOW - RASTER CHARTS ORGANIZER
DESCRIPTION
* RASTOW * (raster-stow contraction) classify your raster charts collection (*.kap files) creating 96 subdirectories divided by timezone (15° steps, without any country exception), north and south, above and below 45° of latitude.
Two modes of creation are available: -copy- or symbolic -link-. At the end of operation, a chartlist.txt containing a catalog of your charts is automatically created. Using -chartlist- command, you can create only a chartlist from your database. In copy mode, the created database may be bigger than the original base because a map can have a part in more than one timezone or <45° to >45° in latitude, and it resides in all the timezone subs covered. So, use symlinks if your space storage is critical.
Two others commands are useful to organize your collection with datas founded in the file header:
It's a good practice to make an update before a copy or rename command: if two files are equals, only the most recent will be handle.
About raster charts: theses charts are not so powerfull and practical than vector charts (no more details zooming, more bigger size), but generally come from original charts edited by officials hydrographics services, the source of vectors charts, so, sometime they may have more details than commercial vector charts (see example in marinux website ) or it is usefull to consult its in case of doubt. Some others people have the homesickness of paper chart look and feel, and theses charts keep the same aspect.
INFOS & DOWNLOAD
http://marinux.tuxfamily.org